Washing machine



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W. E. PINCKNEY WASHING MACHINE Dec. 25, 1928.

Filed Sept. 1, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 25,1928.

ving compartments UNITED STATES I 1,696,253 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. PINCKNEY, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 216,822.

This invention relates generally to machines for washing clothing with particular vertical section taken along the line 6-6 in Flgure 1. Figure 7 is a horizontal section reference to the household type of ma-\ taken along the line 77 in Figure 4. Figchine, and especially to the double poun'der type.

The main object of this invention is the production of a washing machine capable of being operated for a long period of time without requiring servicing.

The second object is the production of a washing machine employing only the miniin opposed union. The double compartments enables the operator to wash clothes in one compartment while rinsing or bluing clothes in the other compartment; or if desired enables the operator to wash the more delicate fabrics with suitable soaps in one compartment while washing heavier fabrics in stronger soaps in the other compartment.

The fourth object is the reduction of time required to perform a given washing operation by enabling the machine to perform two operations at one time.

The fifth object is the production of a washing machine which is of itself a complete houshold laundry unit.

The sixth object is to produce a washing machine of extreme solidity of construction and smoothness of operation, and as light in weight as is consistent with the duty it has to perform.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a completed machine with the outline of the washand the supporting frame shown in dotted lines. Figure 2 isa horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the transmission case with two of its covers removed to show the parts within. Figure 4 is a transverse section takenalong the line 4-4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a perspective View of the yoke. Figure 6 is a f re 8 is a transverse section taken. along the line 8-8 in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 99 in Figure 7.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. Referring in detail to the drawings, in order to illustrate this invention there is shown a two compartment double pounder type of washing machine including the upright legs 11 and the horizontal ties12 and 13, between which are mounted the sides 14 and 15 of the compartments. A roll wringer 16 is alsoindicated. Between the ties 12 are secured a pair of cross ties 17 which are preferably angular in cross section.

The transmission for this machine consists of a single unit and includes the T- shaped housing Whose body 18 has formed thereon the laterally projecting arms 19. The arms 19 are hollow and one of them has formed at its outer end the square enlargement 20 which is provided with a cover plate 21. The arms 19 have openings cast therein through which pass the shafts 22 and 23. r p

The shaft 23 has mounted on its outer end a lever 24 whose hub 25v journals in the bronze bushing 26 which is secured by means of the babbitt27 in the arm 19. The opposite end of the shaft 23 carries a bevel gear 28 whose bushing29 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 23. The end 30 of the hub of the gear 28 is cut away to form a clutch which can engage the sliding clutch collar 31, which is slidably splined on the shaft 23 On the arm 19 is mounted a shifter rod shaft 32 on which is pinned an arm 33 whose pivotally mounted jaw 34 engages a groove 35 in the member 31. The shaft 32 can be rocked by the hand lever 36.

Opposite the gear 28 is a similar gear 37 whose bushing 38 is free on the shaft 22. The end 39 of the gear 37 is also cut away to form a clutch jaw adapted to engage the sliding collar 40 which is splined on the shaft 22. On the outer end of the shaft 22 is secured a lever 41 whose hub 42 journals in the bronze bushing 43 which, in turn, is held by the babbitt 44 in the arm 19. A square enlargement 45, similar to the enlargement 20, is formed on the second arm 19 and is provided with a cover plate Within each of the members 20 and 45 is mounted apair of upright rods 47 on wh ch is slidably laced a Scotch yoke consisting of the u right tubular slides 48 and the channel-s a ed ties 49 and 50. To the tie 50 is secured the plunger rod 51 which projects upwardly through the opening 52 in the top 53 of the enlargements 20 and 45.

On each member 24 and 41 is secured a block 54 b means of the pin 55, WlllCll block is sli ably held between the members 49 and 50. A shifter shaft 56 is provided for the second described clutch mechanism and it is exactly the same as the shaft 32.

Around each plunger rod 51 and secured to the to 53 is a tubular casing 57 whose upper en forms a stuffing box for the pack ing 58 which is held in place by the gland 59.

Transversely positioned with the shafts 22 and 23 is an inclined countershaft 60 which 'ournals at one end inthe hub 61 of the housmg 18 and at the other end in the hub 62 of the housing 18.

The gear 63, which is secured on the shaft 60, meshes with both of the gears 28 and 37. On the shaft 60 near the hub 62 is secured a worm wheel 64 which meshes with the worm 65 on the drive shaft 66 which journals in the bushings 67 which, in turn, are held in place by the babbitt 68.

It is referable to provide roller bearings 69 on t e thrust side of the worm 65.

lug 70 is employed to close one end of the earings and oil is prevented from escaping from the opposite end of the shaft 66 by providing a groove 71 in the shaft, 1n which lies a ring 72 which throws the oil outward before it can escape around the shaft, as is common practice.

Power is su plied to the shaft 66 from the motor 73 t roughjzhe flexible coupling 74. The motor 73 is suspended from the wooden block 75 which is secured to the ties 13 and 17.

It will be noted that the bottom 76 of the body 18 slopes downwardly toward the worm wheel 64. This makes it possible to perfectly lubricate the transmission without danger of wasting even a thin lubricant, which is naturally preferable owing to the low starting tor ue of motors commonly employed with was ing machines, and the factthat if a thick lubricant is employed that it would be difficult to start the machine when cold.

Across the top of the transmission housing is placed a cover 77 which is attached to the flange 78 of the transmission housing by means of the bolts 79. A vertical wringer shaft 80 asses through and journals in the cover 7 and, at its lower end,

journals in the bushing 81 which is held 1n osition in the body 18 by means of the bab itt 82. A worm wheel 83 is pinned on the shaft 80 and meshes with the worm 65. The shaft 80 passes upwardly between the dividing walls 15 of the compartments and drives the wringer 16 through the usual gearing, which need not be explained here.

A control box 84 for the motor 73 is provided on the side of the machine near the wringer drive, or in any other con venient position.

On the upper end of each plunger rod 51 is secured the cross arm 85 on whose ends are held the cups 86, which may be of any desired type.

Across the flanged edge 87 of the enlargements 20 and 45 are placed the cover plates 21 and 46 which are preferably provided with a gasket to prevent lubricant from esca ing.

T e operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the operator has placed a quantity of clothes to be washed in one compartment and another quantity of clothes to be rinsed in the second compartment, and that she wishes to operate both sets of cups at the same time, she merely moves both of the levers 36 to their operating positions, which causes their respective clutch collars 31 and 40 to engage the gears 28 and 37 in a manner to drive the shafts 22 and 23, and, in turn, through the levers 41, to cause the cups 86 to reciprocate vertically at the same time, although in opposite directions, and

A it is for this purpose that the clutch collars 31 and 40 are so formed that they can engage the respective gears only in one position. Obviously, if it is desired to discontinue the operation of one set of cups 86 it is only necessary to move their respective control lever 36 to the off position.

It will also be noted that the transmission case is provided with a pair of upturned angular flanges 89 which are attached against the sides of the ties 17 by means of the bolts 90. It can therefore be seen that the entire transmission is under-slung heneath the ties l7 and that the only parts which have a relatively high speed, such as the motor and the main driving shaft 66, are close to the floor where the speed is materially reduced so that the cups are oscillated to about sixty times a minute.

While the positioning of the cups and their operation in a manner that one set of cups will be up while the other set is down, and vice versa, tends to make the machine smooth in operation, its real object is to distribute the load for the motor, making it easily possible for a motor of small size to operate both sets of cups; whereas if they were operated in unison it might be extremely difiicult to start the load with a low torque motor.

a i end; a yoke 'operably' connected to each One of the main considerations in the design of this transmission was that of facilitating manufacturing. In practice, the entire transmission casing is made as a casting and the only finish work is that of surface grinding the flanges 78 and 87. The journals for the shafts 22, 23 and 60 consist of bronze bushings which, themselves, are supv ported within the cored'holes by babbit-t.

lends itself admirably As above suggested, this construction to lubrication by means of a light oil, due to the fact that the large gear 64 is in the lowermost portion of the housing and carries up an ample supply of lubricant for all of the gears contained 5 therein, without the necessity of carrying the oil level so high as to render its undesirable escape difiicult to prevent.

I am aware that many forms of washing machines have been constructed in the past; it is therefore not my intention to limit myself to this precise form, but I do intend 'end thereof; a pair of bevel gears meshing with said first mentioned gear havmg a common horizontal axis, each of said last mentioned gears havinga shaft upon which it is rotatably mounted, each of said shafts having a crank armsecured to its outer crank; clutches betweensaid bevel gears and their respective crankswhereby said yokes can be operated in opposite directions or either yoke can remain stationary; a drive j shaft positioned transversely across the lower end of said countershaft; a worm and wheel drive between said drive shaft and counters'haft; and a housing operably supporting the above included elements.

2. In atra'nsmission for double pounder washing machines, the combination of upright pounder rods; yoke for slidably operating said rods';"apair of shafts having crank arms on their outer ends for operating said yokes; bevel gears loosely mounted on I the inner ends of said shafts; clutches be tween said gears and their respective shafts;

an inclined countershaft having a bevel gear at its upper end meshing with both of said first mentioned bevel gears; a worm wheel on the lower end of said countershaft; a drive shaft above said worm wheel; a worm on said drive shaft meshing with said worm wheel; and a vertical wringer shaft having a worm wheel at the lower end thereof also meshing with said worm.

3. A transmission for washing machines consisting of a pair of upright pounder rods; a yoke at the lower end of each rod, a crank for operating each yoke; a shaft secured to each crank; an inclined countershaft having bevel ears between its upper end and the ends of said crank shaft; a worm wheel on the lower end of said inclined shaft; a worm meshing with the top side of said worm wheel; a horizontally disposed shaft on which said worm is mounted; a wringer drive worm wheel also meshing with said worm; and a housing supporting said elements havin an oil sump formed under said worm w eel supplying lubricant to the entire mechanism. 4. A transmission for washing machines consisting of a pair of spaced yoke containing compartments having a trough-shaped connecting frame, said frame having a laterally extending trough-shaped body the lower side of which slopes downwardly away from said connecting. member, said connecting member and body having cored openings formed therein for the reception of bearings and the top of said trough-shaped connecting member and body having a flanged surface in a single plane adapted to receive a cover plate.

5. A transmission for washing machines consisting of integral upright yoke containing compartments having means at their upper ends for under-slinging same from a washing machine frame; a T-shaped trough member whose cross arms integrally unite said yoke compartments, said trough mem- WILLIAM E. PINCKNEY. 

